Hi, This is probably a FAQ too, but regarding the mutual termination for patent action clause:
Say I have a proprietary application and want to use someone's patent. Can I implement a small library containing only the patented code, license the library under the AFL, then use that library from my proprietary application, thus preventing the patent owner from filing a lawsuit against me? If the answer is no, is the answer clearly no to anyone reading the license, or could a reasonable lawyer worry about this issue? The reason I want to license code under an X-style license is to be sure no one avoids using the code for licensing reasons. i.e. to maximize usage of the code. Do people think the mutual termination clause runs counter to that goal? I like the idea of the AFL very much, including the mutual termination clause, but am concerned that the classic X license would get the rubber stamp much more quickly from many legal departments - if only because most of the relevant departments have already approved X, Apache, and so on. What's the conventional wisdom on this? Thanks, Havoc -- license-discuss archive is at http://crynwr.com/cgi-bin/ezmlm-cgi?3
